The impact of the Kermanshah earthquake experiences of Iranian nurses as rescuers: a qualitative study.

Background: Over the past few years, Iran has experienced several earthquakes. The literature has highlighted the significant role played by Iranian nurses in the Kermanshah earthquake. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate nurses' responses to disasters. This study aimed to explore the impacts of rescue experiences on nurses who cared for the injured following the Kermanshah earthquake.

Method: This is a qualitative study utilizing a conventional content analysis approach, following the Granheim and Landman framework. Sixteen nurses with experience in caring for earthquake survivors in Kermanshah were selected using a purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews, with ethical considerations applied at all stages of the research. MAXQDA software (version 10) was employed to assist in managing the data.

Results: The study included 16 nurses: nine females (56.25%) and seven males (43.75%). The mean age of the participants was 34.13 ± 5.78 years, and the mean work experience was 10.75 ± 5.3 years. Following the coding of the interviews, 274 initial codes were extracted. These codes were merged to form 17 subcategories, five categories, and two main themes. The main themes were (i) Positive impacts (professional maturity, and the emergence of a new horizon in the meaning of life) and (ii) Negative impacts (psychological trauma, a decline in professional performance, and spiritual despair).

Conclusion: In the context of this type of care, nurses experience dual impacts: on one hand, it uplifts their personal lives and professional performance, while on the other hand, it poses significant threats to them.